Phil Castle, The Business Times

Daniel Delano envisions a transition from fossil fuels to electricity to power transportation. And he expects his company to not only contribute to that transition, but also counter climate change in the process.

“It’s important to try and do this,” says Delano, co-founder, president and chief executive officer of Skyhook Solar.

The company recently relocated to a larger facility in Grand Junction that will accommodate commercial production of solar stations that charge electric vehicles and bicycles as well as serve other purposes.

A key attribute of the stations, Delano says, is their portability. They can be quickly moved and deployed where they’re needed  — whether that’s an urban setting in which it would be expensive to dig trenches to connect to the grid or a more remote area without electrical service.

Delano hopes to slowly ramp up production to 80 units in 2024. But given what he expects will be growing demand, it’s possible annual production ultimately could grow to 1,000 units.

Electric vehicles don’t yet dominate the market. But given laws in states like California and New York phasing in EVs, they soon will, he says. And that will require additional infrastructure  — and stations like Skyhook Solar provides.

Delano says he joined with a long-time friend, William Gilmore, to found Skyhook Solar in 2019. Gilmore serves as chief product officer.

Delano previously worked in the hospitality construction industry in Aspen, but says he came out of a brief retirement in part because of his growing concerns about the effects of climate change.
He says he recognized a role for solar energy in supporting a transportation transition by charging electric vehicles as well as the electric bicycles used in bike share programs.

Skyhook Solar began working with PBSC Urban Solutions to supply solar-powered charging stations for the WE-cycle bike sharing program in the Roaring Fork Valley. Skyhook Solar subsequently provided 10 stations from Aspen to Carbondale.

The company has provided stations to other cities on a pilot basis, Delano says, including Detroit and Montreal. He sees the opportunity for further expansion in cities in the United States and Canada as well as into Europe.

Skyhook Solar moved from Carbondale to Grand Junction to relocate the operation into a larger facility at a lower cost. At 7,000 square feet, the building at 740 Scarlet St. is more than three times larger and also offers more outdoor storage.

Delano says the Rural Jump Start Program also was an attraction. Skyhook Solar was accepted into the program, which offers a variety of incentives to participating companies, including credits on income and sales taxes, cash grants and workforce development opportunities. Skyhook Solar will be eligible to receive up to $20,000 to defray startup costs as well as $2,500 for each new hire.

Participants must add a minimum of three net new jobs in high-paying, highly skilled fields. In Mesa County, businesses also must form partnerships with Colorado Mesa University through mentorship and internship opportunities as well as community involvement.

Skyhook Solar currently employs a total of 10 full- and part-time employees, four who work in Grand Junction. But Delano says he plans to create 38 new jobs in Mesa County over the next four years.

Staffing will increase along with commercial production, which he expects to begin early next year.

Skyhook Solar offers solar stations in various sizes for different uses, including electric vehicle and bicycle charging as well as electric generation for communication and internet access. The stations come with solar panels, batteries and a microcomputer. Several of the models are available in kit form, meaning they can be assembled on site.

Delano says Skyhook Solar provided stations to Navajo communities off the grid in Arizona as part of a project to evaluate how the stations would work in generating electricity for lighting and cell phones as well as provide internet access.

A heavy duty solar power trailer also is under development, he says, and potentially could be combined with hydrogen fuel cell technology to generate electricity.

Skyhook Solar also offer vaults for charging batteries for electric bikes. Delano says the vaults prevent theft, but also can contain fires if they occur.

In addition, Skyhook Solar is a software company that provides software that integrates chargers and battery vaults and tracks electrical production, he says.

Given the growing use of electric vehicles and bicycles as well as the mobility and versatility of Skyhook Solar stations, Delano says he’s excited about the role the company can play in a transportation transition while also countering climate change.

For more information about Skyhook Solar, log on to the website at www.skyhooksolar.com.